MINAMATA Updates

justintime · Unread post by **justintime** » Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:32 am

REVIEW: The Playlist by Jessica Kiang (B-)

https://theplaylist.net/minamata-review ... -20200221/

justintime · Unread post by **justintime** » Tue Feb 25, 2020 3:51 pm

Another positive review - see link below to First Showing - that should be on Rotten Tomatoes’ carefully selected group of “worthy” critic contributions. This review has been online since the 22nd.

If I were a cynical sort, I might be thinking RT is hoping to load up the negative reviews (and keep that % respectably low) before allowing the positive ones to be scattered around and lost in the shuffle - note the first ones you see are two top critic negatives, when in actuality, The Guardian and Variety - both, amazingly, top critic positives - were among the first posted but are no longer the first to be seen. Optics are not to be dismissed: seeing two bright red tomatoes at first glance rather than two squished green ones needs no further comment for many tuning in.

Apologies for being so petty, but to my mind that’s what most of these things - these often personally biased and inexcusably shallow assessments - turn out to be. Inappropriately used “professional” platforms are too frequently tagged to showcase clever but crude zingers and tasteless, ignorant descriptives with obvious targets and a clear agenda (e.g. Eric Kohn’s IndieWire “review”).

This is a very important project for and to Johnny. Minamata’s backers are currently seeking US distribution rights. I believe there are many who would love nothing more than to see Minamata suffer the same fate as The Professor. Unfortunately, ratings and reviews are very much an integral part of that equation. We can help, a bit.

REVIEW: https://www.firstshowing.net/2020/berli ... ournalism/

Come on, RT, step out of your comfort zone. Glad to see The Playlist review finally found its way into your count. It was available online since the 21st.

justintime · Unread post by **justintime** » Tue Feb 25, 2020 9:45 pm

REVIEW: A DMovies “QuickSnap” by Victor Fraga , 02/20/2020

https://www.dmovies.org/2020/02/20/minamata/

Rating: 4/5 gems

meeps · Unread post by **meeps** » Wed Feb 26, 2020 9:02 am

A bit of behind the scene stuff

It is one of Depp’s best performances in some time and, like Sanada, he favours a team atmosphere on set. “Johnny spent a long time in make-up every day but was always calm and gentle,” Sanada recalls.
“He was generous with the crew and cast and on weekends we would have a drink together. He loves jokes and would play the guitar and sang for me. I had a great time with him. Since the film was shot in Serbia – Minamata is a very modern city now – some of the Japanese extras came at their own expense from London, Germany and Japan just to be around him. They were not disappointed.”

ME:

In-too-Depp · Unread post by **In-too-Depp** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 9:23 am

Another couple of behind the scenes pics.

SnoopyDances · Unread post by **SnoopyDances** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 11:54 am

gipsyblues · Unread post by **gipsyblues** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 1:03 pm

Thank you , In-too-Depp

SnoopyDances · Unread post by **SnoopyDances** » Tue Mar 10, 2020 11:10 pm

New from Variety

Andrew Levitas on Minamata and Johnny Depp

myfave · Unread post by **myfave** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 2:53 pm

When does this movie come to the US?

Newt · Unread post by **Newt** » Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:46 am

"Minamata, Andrew Levitas’s drama starring Johnny Depp as celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith, has sold around the world for HanWay Films.

Vertigo Releasing has acquired the film’s UK and Ireland rights, while the sales co has also locked deals with Eagle Pictures (Italy), Swift Distribution (France), Odeon S.A. (Greece), Films4U (Portugal), BG Filmcilik (Turkey), Beta Film (Bulgaria), Discovery Film (former Yugoslavia), Forum Film (Poland), Exponenta Film (CIS), FrontRow Filmed Ent (Midde East), Rialto Distribution (Australia/NZ), Longride Inc (Japan), Intercontinental Films (Hong Kong), PVR (India), Shaw Organisation (Singapore), Fox Networks Group (SE Asian Pay TV), Cai Chang International (Taiwan) and M Pictures Ent (Thailand)."

No word for a US release for now but imminent I'm sure. It's releasing in the UK in February 2021. Alas, it seems it'll be theatrical in all those territories. Hoping for a simultaneous VOD and theatrical one in the US.

Film looks beautiful and one heck of a role for Johnny I just love his expression when he says "the photographer's soul", brilliant. If anyone finds out what the second piece of music is in the trailer, let me know!

gipsyblues · Unread post by **gipsyblues** » Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:44 am

What ? No relase for Germany , that's sad. Please , relase it for Germany too.

justintime · Unread post by **justintime** » Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:40 pm

Shortly after the Berlin Premiere of Minamata on February 21st, 2020, herd mentality amongst the critics resulted in many “reviews” riddled with snide, unprofessional, and sometimes outright cruel, personal hits to Johnny’s performance - a cowardly, obvious effort to specifically reserve or stanch praise for JD and to cripple the film itself.

But timing is everything. The following is a positive review, (notably, fairly recent: May 21, 2020), written by longtime award-winning Film Critic Scott Mantz. IMHO, well worth the read and hopefully the precursor of many more of its ilk to come.

https://www.moviemantz.com/movie-reviews/3280/

I have to admit I am beyond giddy with praise for this proper - make that magnificent - trailer heralding the film’s upcoming release. The music alone is intoxicating, not to mention Johnny’s voice.

gipsyblues · Unread post by **gipsyblues** » Thu Oct 08, 2020 2:20 pm

justintime for your good information. Then I will wait and hope to see this fantasstic film.
I am happy for all the others , who can see Minamata

Newt · Unread post by **Newt** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:26 am

Such a gorgeous trailer. There's just an impact that great trailers can have with the cutting, the music. I hope the film is just as good and god, what is this second piece of music.

Newt · Unread post by **Newt** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:17 am

Andrew Levitas told me that the song is called One Single Voice and was written for the film by Katherine Jenkins (his wife, who also has a role in the film) and Skylar Grey and performed by her.